Proverb / Kotowaza
情けは人のためならず
Kindness shown to others is not just for their benefit, but will eventually return to you.
Compassion is not for the sake of others
Quick Answer
Kindness shown to others is not just for their benefit, but will eventually return to you.
- Literal Image
- Compassion is not for the sake of others
- Closest Equivalent
- One good turn deserves another
- How to Use It
- It is used to encourage someone to be kind or to explain why a good deed resulted in a positive outcome for the doer later on.
Meaning
This proverb teaches that being kind and helping others is ultimately beneficial to oneself. Rather than being a selfless sacrifice, acts of compassion create a cycle of goodwill that eventually circles back to the original giver. It serves as an encouragement to treat others with kindness without expecting immediate returns.
Literal Image
Compassion is not for the sake of others
Equivalent Proverbs
One good turn deserves another
A very close equivalent regarding the cycle of kindness.
What goes around comes around
Used in a positive sense here.
How to Use It
It is used to encourage someone to be kind or to explain why a good deed resulted in a positive outcome for the doer later on.
Tone
The tone is encouraging and moralizing. Note that modern speakers sometimes misinterpret this as 'being too kind is bad for the person,' which is incorrect.
Examples
困っている人を助けたら、後に自分も助けられた。情けは人のためならずだ。
I helped someone in trouble, and later I was helped myself. It truly is 'kindness is not just for others'.
情けは人のためならずというように、親切は巡り巡って自分に返ってくるものだ。
As the saying goes, kindness eventually comes back to you in the end.
見返りを期待せずとも、情けは人のためならずで、いつか良いことがある。
Even without expecting anything in return, something good will happen eventually because kindness is not for the sake of others alone.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the archaic negative ending 'narazu' and is a very stable idiomatic phrase.
情け
なさけ / nasake
compassion; kindness
ため
ため / tame
sake; benefit
ならず
ならず / narazu
is not (classical negative)
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be aware of the common misuse where people think it means kindness is bad for the recipient.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret 'not for the sake of others' as 'you should not be kind to others.' The actual meaning is 'it is for your OWN sake because it returns to you.'
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The phrase spread as a teaching of cause and effect (inga-oho), based on the idea that 'it is not (only) for the sake of others' and thus leads to one's own growth and happiness.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.